London Plan

Anne Clarke: In what ways have the policies contained in the London Plan affected the content and priorities in the LFB’s Community Risk Management Plan?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) is committed to supporting the priorities outlined in the London Plan, and the draft Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) sets out a number of actions that the Brigade will take in support of this. These include:influencing London’s changing built environment and upholding the highest levels of fire safety to support affordable housing and support the delivery of the homes Londoners need; adapting to changing risks tackling fire-related crime; and keeping Londoners safe in their homes and on London’s changing transport.

Dial-a-Ride

Caroline Pidgeon: Please set out your response to each recommendation in the Age UK London and Transport for All report Dial-a-Ride: From Door to More, published in July 2022.

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) received the report from Age UK and Transport for All on 7 July. It would like to thank both organisations for their hard work on the report.
I understand the General Manager for Dial-a-Ride had an opportunity to meet with you, other Assembly Members, the report authors, and several Dial-a-Ride members on 11 July, which provided further insights into the basis of the report. In that meeting, TfL committed to responding to the report’s recommendations and will do so in due course, after having had the opportunity to fully consider the proposals.

Borough-wide Characterisation Studies (6)

Sakina Sheikh: Does the GLA contain an updated database showing which London borough’s local plans have reached Regulation 19 stage?

The Mayor: The GLA does not hold a real time database of this information, but the London Plan Annual Monitoring Report contains a table of borough local plan documents reviewed or adopted during the previous year. It will include Local Plan and other Development Plan Document (DPD) progress (borough, neighbourhood plan or other London local planning authority) where these have been referred to the Mayor.

London City Airport Plans for Increased Flights

Caroline Pidgeon: How do you respond to the current London City Airport consultation which is proposing to increase its annual passenger limit from 6.5 million to 9 million as well as commencing flights for the first time on Saturday afternoons and evenings and increasing flights in the first half hour of its morning operations? Will you be responding to the current consultation?

The Mayor: My officers are reviewing London City Airport’s current consultation. This will inform the response I will submit in due course and make available online.
Many of the proposals contained within this consultation were first raised by the Airport in its draft Masterplan in 2019. My response to that consultation raised very significant concerns about the noise, air quality and carbon impacts and made clear that unfettered growth is not an option.

National Operational Guidance (3)

Anne Clarke: The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) provide a “digital and dynamic strategic gap analysis tool” which allows the LFB to record their actions to align with National Operational Guidance. Please provide details of what gaps, if any, were identified as a result of using this tool and what the LFB is doing to close those gaps?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) used this tool at a very early stage as part of its Integration of Operational Guidance project and this helped to shape the new operational policy framework that was delivered in phase one of this project.There are thousands of strategic actions within National Operational Guidance. One example of a gap that was identified is the recording of decisions at incidents. New policies, procedures and training have now been introduced to address this.As part of the next phase of work, which is currently in the commissioning phase, the project team wishes to revisit this gap analysis and run the tool against the new framework of guidance. If any gaps are identified as part of this process suitable action plans will be developed as necessary to address these.

National Operational Guidance (2)

Anne Clarke: What risk assessments have been carried out by the LFB? What control measures have been implemented as a result?

The Mayor: As part of the Integration of National Operational Guidance project that has been undertaken by London Fire Brigade (LFB), the existing activity-based risk assessments associated with Operational Policies have been reviewed and amended as necessary, in line with National Operational Guidance hazards and control measures.An example of a control measure that has been implemented is the creation of the high-rise, fire survival guidance and evacuation policies.The second phase of the Integration project will involve further work on implementation of National Operational Guidance, which will include more detailed work on risk assessments.

Site-Specific Risk Information (2)

Anne Clarke: How has the LFB used Site-Specific Risk Information to inform its Community Risk Management Plan?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) has prepared an Assessment of Risk in London as part of the preparatory work to inform the draft Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). Site specific information is held at a greater level of detail than can be reflected in the Assessment of Risk and the CRMP, however, this information has informed the categorisation of risks associated with building types which is reflected in the Assessment of Risk. The draft CRMP sets out how the Brigade proposes to respond to those risks over the life of the plan.
The table below provides a breakdown of visits and resulting action over the last two years. In addition, frontline staff have conducted over 8,800 fire safety checks since July 2021.
2020/2021
2021/2022
Buildings inspected
8578
8591
Prohibition/restrictions
57
50
Enforcement notices
279
216
Notices of deficiencies
1656
1770

Site-Specific Risk Information (1)

Anne Clarke: Please provide details on LFB’s programme of work for developing, reviewing and distributing Site-Specific Risk Information?

The Mayor: The Operational Risk Information (ORI) project resulted in Premises Risk Assessments (7.2.d. visits) of 7,762 addresses. Of these, 7,575 electronic premises information plates (ePIPs) were created, which are accessible on frontline appliances via the Operational Risk Database/Mobile Data Terminals. Linked in with the ORI project, the Building Risk Review (BRR) Programme, carried out at the request of the Government, saw 8,517 high-rise buildings triaged or inspected by fire safety teams. For the highest risk buildings where the evacuation strategy has temporarily changed to simultaneous evacuation, LFB’s High Risk Premises Team monitors and shares information with fire safety, fire stations, Control and pre-determined attendance for 1,099 buildings with an interim evacuation strategy

Risk Based Inspection Programme (2)

Anne Clarke: How has LFB used its Risk Based Inspection Programme to inform its Community Risk Management Plan?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) has prepared an Assessment of Risk in London as part of the preparatory work to inform the draft Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). The results of the Risk Based Inspection Programme (RBIP) are held at a greater level of detail than can be reflected in the Assessment of Risk and the CRMP, however, this information has informed the categorisation of risks associated with building types which is reflected in the Assessment of Risk. The draft CRMP sets out how the Brigade proposes to respond to those risks over the life of the plan, for example, learning from the RBIP has informed how prevention and protection activities can be improved to reduce risk and better meet the needs of Londoners.

Community Risk Reduction (2)

Anne Clarke: How has international good practice in community risk reduction informed the content of the LFB’s Community Risk management Plan?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) has established learning groups to ensure that good practice is captured, and has liaised with international fire services to share learning. Recent examples include a visit to Milan following a significant high-rise fire and the hosting of visitors from Barcelona and Paris fire and rescue services. The Brigade's modelling consultants also work with fire and other emergency services around the world and share good practice to inform resource management and deployment options. The learning from this engagement has been used to inform the Assessment of Risk that underpins the draft Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) and will influence, wherever relevant, the approach taken to delivery of the objectives in the CRMP, when published in January 2023.

Community Risk Reduction (1)

Anne Clarke: What steps have LFB taken to identify international good practice in community risk reduction, including the international Fire Services they have met with?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) has established learning groups to ensure that good practice is captured, and has liaised with international fire services to share learning. Recent examples include a visit to Milan following a significant high-rise fire and the hosting of visitors from Barcelona and Paris fire and rescue services. The Brigade's modelling consultants also work with fire and other emergency services around the world and share good practice to inform resource management and deployment options. Not all international good practice is applicable to London, as there can be significant differences in regulatory regimes, building construction types, cultures and behaviours, which is why one of the key drivers for the Community Risk Management Plan is a shift to a more localised approach to risk management.

Climate justice for Londoners

Zack Polanski: How can Londoners get effective, continued representation and have their voices heard on climate justice issues?

The Mayor: My refreshed VAWG Strategy sets out four key priority areas for action: preventing and reducing VAWG; supporting all victims and survivors; holding perpetrators to account and building trust and confidence. The outcomes framework sets out the changes we want to see and MOPAC will monitor delivery of the Strategy by tracking a core set of measures. Where appropriate these align to the measures set out in the Police and Crime Plan (PCP) and include a mix of quantitative and qualitative indicators.
The Outcomes Framework Technical Note, and accompanying Data Definitions can be found here, listed under supporting documents.

Borough-wide Characterisation Studies (7)

Sakina Sheikh: Do you believe that the guidance for London boroughs’ Local Plan policies is tight enough to ensure that only sites identified by a Borough-wide Characterisation Study are used for tall buildings?

The Mayor: London Plan policy D9 (B3) states that tall buildings should only be developed in locations that are identified as suitable in Development Plans. To support boroughs in identifying locations where tall buildings may be appropriate within their development plans, the draft Characterisation and Growth Strategy London Plan Guidance sets out a process for identifying these areas. Importantly, the process should also include identifying areas which are not considered appropriate or suitable for tall buildings.
Notwithstanding that, a borough’s Development Plan sits within the context of the UK planning system in which each planning application is assessed against the development plan as a whole. As a result, there may be instances when a tall building is permitted in areas outside those that are set.

Motorcycle Incidents with Delivery Company Drivers

Caroline Pidgeon: TfL’s press release issued on 27 June 2022 regarding the number of people killed on London’s roads makes reference to the ongoing work with delivery, courier and servicing companies to drive down incidents involving motorcycles. In addition to the ‘Drivers and riders, watch out for each other’ campaign last year, please outline what further actions you are taking to improve safety for powered two-wheeler (PTW) drivers?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has adopted a safe system approach to road danger reduction in order to make London’s roads safe for all road users, including motorcyclists. This involves lowering speed limits, redesigning junctions and working in close partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service to target risky behaviours and locations.
Additionally, there are several activities underway to specifically improve motorcycle safety. These include:
TfL also recognises the importance to motorcyclists of safe and well-maintained road surfaces and are actively making the case to Government for the capital funding support necessary to maintain transport infrastructure in a good state of repair.

London’s Registered Voters (2)

Len Duvall: One in eight Londoners is not registered to vote. What action is being taken to encourage people in London to register to vote?

The Mayor: I believe all Londoners should have a voice and a vote on decisions impacting them, their families, their communities, and our great city.
Many of the communities who have been disproportionally impacted by the pandemic, and now the cost-of-living crisis, are also more likely to be under-registered and under-represented in the democratic system.
This is why the GLA has pioneered the largest, impartial democratic partnership London Voter Registration Week (LVRW) which is now in its fourth year. LVRW, which this year will take place from 19 to 25 September, is delivered in partnership with the Electoral Commission, all London borough councils and more than 100 civil society organisations. All materials and activities are co-designed and co-delivered with under-represented communities.
In the last two years, through this broad coalition, LVRW has contributed to the voter registration of around 75,000 Londoners and has reached over 1.4 million Londoners.

Fire Brigade compliance with the ULEZ (2)

Zack Polanski: Thank you for your answer to my question 2021/2743. What is the current proportion of vehicles operated by London Fire Brigade (LFB) that are compliant with your Ultra Low Emission Zone and Low Emission Zone, and what is your timescale for reducing emissions beyond these standards?

The Mayor: 86 per cent of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) owned fleet is currently compliant with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) (338 out of 395 road vehicles). Additionally, there are 27 assets operated by LFB that are owned by the government, these are National Resilience vehicles and are not compliant with the ULEZ and LEZ. Later this year LFB will be trialling the first Zero Emission Pumping Appliance, the first electric hybrid fire engine in the UK, and in 2023 the electric hybrid officer response cars fleet will be replaced with fully electric cars.

Fire service reform

Zack Polanski: Do you support the Government’s White Paper on system-wide reform of the fire service?

The Mayor: I support many of the objectives of the Government's white paper on reform of fire and rescue services, not least where they aim to professionalise fire and rescue services and improve leadership skills including better use of data. The London Fire Brigade has been implementing a wide-ranging transformation programme with a number of similar priorities, so the proposals represent a good opportunity to extend and embed this work. We have seen a number of major incidents related to climate change including flash flooding and grass fires and this will only increase. The reform agenda misses an opportunity to address these growing risks. It focuses unnecessarily on a new oath for firefighters which would add nothing to the safety of Londoners. It could have further clarified the duties of fire and rescue services, for instance in responding to flooding, and ensuring adequate resources are provided to carry out these and other duties. I am clear that, as in London, other areas should have the right to determine their own model of governance. Furthermore there is a lack of clarity about how new governance proposals will be applied in London; this issue needs some further consideration and the GLA Fire Team has already spoken about this to the Home Office. My Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience will be writing to the Government shortly to respond to the consultation in more detail.

Police and ULEZ cameras (1)

Unmesh Desai: How many times in the past three years have the Metropolitan Police accessed ANPR data from ULEZ cameras?

The Mayor: Over the past three years, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has never accessed ANPR data from the ULEZ cameras.

LFB Diversity (3)

Anne Clarke: What plans, if any, do you have to update the “reflective of London” target during autumn/winter 2022 as data from the 2021 Census is released?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade plans to update targets as the new census data is released. However, the current understanding is that this could be later than autumn/winter 2022.

Waking Watches and London’s Boroughs

Anne Clarke: Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of the number of buildings operating waking watches in London. Please also breakdown the numbers for buildings over 18m and under 18m in each borough.

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) collects data for buildings with a temporary suspension of ‘stay put’ where an interim simultaneous evacuation strategy has been put in place. This includes, but is not limited to, waking watches, which the National Fire Chiefs Council guidance defines as a system where ‘suitably trained persons continually patrol all floors and the exterior perimeter of the building in order to detect a fire, raise the alarm, and carry out the role of evacuation management’.Residential buildings with an interim simultaneous evacuation strategy in place could have personnel on site or a remote monitoring system, but this is determined by the Responsible Person with guidancefroma competent fire safety professional.
The figures can changeon a daily basiswhen interim measures are required, or a building is remediated and no longer requires the interim measures. The number of buildings where an interim simultaneous evacuation strategy has been put in place, asof15th July 2022, are presented by borough and by height in the table below.
Local Authority
Total blocks
Over 18 metres
Under 18 metres
Barking and Dagenham
23
15
8
Barnet
29
16
13
Bexley
3
3
0
Brent
44
29
15
Bromley
5
3
2
Camden
35
30
5
City of London
3
2
1
Croydon
37
22
15
Ealing
19
11
8
Enfield
3
2
1
Greenwich
75
63
12
Hackney
87
68
19
Hammersmith and Fulham
11
9
2
Haringey
18
12
6
Harrow
5
4
1
Havering
15
9
6
Hillingdon
16
10
6
Hounslow
22
16
6
Islington
62
32
30
Kensington and Chelsea
20
11
9
Kingston upon Thames
4
4
0
Lambeth
52
37
15
Lewisham
49
30
19
Merton
4
3
1
Newham
75
70
5
Redbridge
12
10
2
Richmond
1
1
0
Southwark
98
77
21
Sutton
15
7
8
Tower Hamlets
156
145
11
Waltham Forest
24
24
0
Wandsworth
27
22
5
Westminster
37
34
3
Total
1086
831
255

Green Infrastructure

Onkar Sahota: Given Transport for London’s financial position, how much of a priority is it to install green walls and associated infrastructure around the major, heavily polluted highways of the capital to make these areas more inviting?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) works to protect, connect and enhance green infrastructure and deliver a net increase in biodiversity across its transport network.
Different types of green infrastructure will work better in different locations therefore TfL seeks to deliver interventions that provide the best value for money with maximum benefits. Green walls provide some benefits but are very expensive to install and maintain and have been found to not deliver the air quality improvements that are sometimes suggested. TfL’s focus is instead on improving and increasing green infrastructure in the roadside environment because if this is done intelligently it can provide a wider range of benefits, including for air quality, while also offering better value for money.

Industrial Land Advocate

Sakina Sheikh: Will you look at appointing a dedicated advocate for industrial land in London?

The Mayor: The Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills is a strong advocate for industrial land. He oversaw a no-net loss approach to industrial land in my draft London Plan - which was subsequently weakened by the Secretary of State. The GLA is one of the founding members of the Industry and Logistics Sounding Board which was established to inform the development of the industrial land policies in the London Plan and will input to new London Plan Guidance on industrial and logistics uses and projects to support the implementation of the London Plan.
The Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills also works at a strategic level with borough leaders to protect and improve industrial land across London. My Planning team works closely with boroughs as they bring forward Local Plans and other planning documents and scrutinise these to ensure they are in general conformity with the London Plan, including meeting their industrial demand. Through my Good Growth Fund I have supported the development of the Charlton Workstack and an evaluation study to create a shareable case study.

Cost of relocating the London Cable Car

Siân Berry: How much would it cost to relocate the London Cable Car, currently operating between the Royal Docks and North Greenwich, to another suitable location on the Thames?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has no intention of moving the cable car to another location on the Thames so this analysis has not been carried out. It is not possible to estimate the potential cost or if it is feasible to move the cable car.
It is important point to note that the cableway system and its infrastructure was designed and built to suit its local environment and constraints. There would also be several planning and consent factors that would need to be considered in detail before an assessment could be concluded.

Renewable Energy from Solar Panels

Hina Bokhari: What percentage of London’s rooftops are covered in solar panels?

The Mayor: Boosting solar power is an important factor in tackling climate change and reaching net zero by 2030. My Solar Action Plan aimed to deliver 1 GW of solar capacity by 2030, with my Accelerated Green pathway noting 1.5 GW of solar.
The latest statistics from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy show that in 2020 there were 28,265 solar installation sites in London (an increase of 25% since 2016 when I was first elected). Solar installation sites cover just over 1% of London roofs, but not all roofs are suitable for solar.
My programmes have contributed to the increase in solar installations with Solar Together London alone delivering over 2,000 installs to date, and with my London Community Energy Fund, Retrofit Accelerator – Workplaces and London Solar Opportunity Map also contributing. My London Plan drives incremental on-site solar capacity beyond national planning regulations. For more information please see MQ 2022/1817

New census data (2)

Marina Ahmad: What does the new census data mean for London’s share of the Government’s Levelling Up Funding?

The Mayor: Government has recently published each region’s share of all the various funds to support levelling up. Those allocations were made before the new census data was available but many of those funds are not based on population size but other factors. the main levelling up fund ,The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, was allocated based on each region’s share of previous European Union funds and many other funds are subject to open competition through bidding.
London’s share of the funds is substantially less than that of other regions. Of the eleven major regional funding initiatives (including the levelling up fund, the regional growth fund and the UK shared prosperity fund), London received by far the lowest amounts per capita: £76 per capita compared to the England average of £342 (based on previous census data).

Fire Standards (2)

Anne Clarke: The Fire Standards Board publishes an Implementation Tool for each of the 11 Fire Standards. Does the LFB use those tools? If so, please provide copies of each of the tools used so we can see how the LFB has scored itself.

The Mayor: When the initial standards were published this Implementation Tool was not available and so London Fire Brigade (LFB) developed its own tool. However, LFB’s tool is very similar to the one that is now available.For the more recently published standards, the Implementation Tool published by the Fire Standards Board is being utilised.Work is in progress to use the tool retrospectively for those standards that were published prior to its release. Once this, and the compliance assessment for the newly published standards, is completed LFB will share the results with the Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee.

National Operational Guidance (1)

Anne Clarke: How does the LFB work to comply with “National Operational Guidance”?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) set up a high priority and high-level governance project to manage the implementation, and therefore, compliance with National Operational Guidance.On 1 March 2022 a new framework of operational policy was delivered as a result of the LFB Integration of National Operational Guidance project.The creation of this framework has involved the removal of duplication and an exercise to ensure that the hazards and control measures featured in National Operational Guidance are included in this framework where appropriate.
The creation of the new framework has taken 139 extant policies and condensed and consolidated these into 21 foundation documents with associated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).While the first phase of this work is now complete, there is further work required to deliver assurance with regards to compliance. The project team is developing a business case in order to commission the resource required to deliver this.

Supporting Sustainable Transport Mode Shift

Hina Bokhari: Will you consider amending the London Plan to introduce a requirement on building developers to include cycle hire and parking provision as part of any future planning process in order to support the mode shift towards more sustainable forms of transport?

The Mayor: My London Plan already contains strong cycling policy, including requirements for cycle parking to enable Londoners to own and park a bike at home. My standards also require developers to provide cycle parking at offices and other places of work, as well as at destinations Londoners want to visit.
Cycle hire is more popular than ever, and the Transport for London scheme is growing under my mayoralty, reaching places like Brixton for the first time. This has been achieved by securing land and developer contributions in line with London Plan policy. Dockless cycle hire also plays a role and I have welcomed their provision, where managed effectively. In the next London Plan I will consider what further role shared bikes can play, including the potential for shared cargo bikes to enable car free and car lite lifestyles.

Police and ULEZ cameras (2)

Unmesh Desai: How many times have the Metropolitan Police used ANPR data from the ULEZ camera on the junction of The Circle and North Circular Roads?

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has never accessed ANPR data from the ULEZ cameras on the junction of The Circle and North Circular Roads.

Religious Affiliation of Firefighters

Hina Bokhari: Please provide a breakdown of the LFB workforce by religious affiliation.

The Mayor: The table below provides a breakdown of London Fire Brigade’s workforce by religious affiliation by occupational group as at 30 June 2022.
Occupational Group
Total
Buddhist
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
1
0.87%
FRS Staff
932
6
0.64%
Operational Staff
4552
62
1.36%
Total
5599
69
1.23%
Occupational Group
Total
Christian
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
48
41.74%
FRS Staff
932
401
43.03%
Operational Staff
4552
1530
33.61%
Total
5599
1979
35.35%
Occupational Group
Total
Hindu
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
0
0.00%
FRS Staff
932
28
3.00%
Operational Staff
4552
15
0.33%
Total
5599
43
0.77%
Occupational Group
Total
Jewish
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
0
0.00%
FRS Staff
932
4
0.43%
Operational Staff
4552
14
0.31%
Total
5599
18
0.32%
Occupational Group
Total
Muslim
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
1
0.87%
FRS Staff
932
32
3.43%
Operational Staff
4552
74
1.63%
Total
5599
107
1.91%
Occupational Group
Total
Other
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
0
0.00%
FRS Staff
932
21
2.25%
Operational Staff
4552
169
3.71%
Total
5599
190
3.39%
Occupational Group
Total
Sikh
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
0
0.00%
FRS Staff
932
7
0.75%
Operational Staff
4552
17
0.37%
Total
5599
24
0.43%
Occupational Group
Total
No Religion
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
50
43.48%
FRS Staff
932
314
33.69%
Operational Staff
4552
1705
37.46%
Total
5599
2069
36.95%
Occupational Group
Total
Prefer not to say
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
1
0.87%
FRS Staff
932
16
1.72%
Operational Staff
4552
51
1.12%
Total
5599
68
1.21%
Occupational Group
Total
Not Provided
Number
Percentage
Control Staff
115
14
12.17%
FRS Staff
932
103
11.05%
Operational Staff
4552
915
20.10%
Total
5599
1032
18.43%

Reducing Drug Deaths in London (7)

Emma Best: What barriers in terms of legal framework are present in London in relation to creating Drug Consumption Rooms that did not exist in Scotland where drug consumption rooms have been introduced?

The Mayor: There is currently no legal framework in England & Wales for the provision of drug consumption rooms and, as such, a range of offences would be committed by operating them. Whilst there is evidence that drug consumption rooms can be effective at reducing drug harm, there is no prospect of them being trialled in England & Wales unless the Home Office supports them and the appropriate legislation is passed.

London and Partners Hospitality

Neil Garratt: Can you please provide a breakdown (line by line) of all gifts and hospitality received by GLA officials (including the Mayor, Deputy Mayors, and the Mayor’s political appointees) from London and Partners since 2016? Can a legally required nominal value please also be provided for each item.

The Mayor: Gifts or hospitality worth £50 or over must be registered with the GLA's Monitoring Officer within 28 days of being received.
The register of gifts and hospitality accepted by the Mayor, Assembly Members and City Hall staff are publicly available on the GLA website via https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/governance-and-spending/good-governance/gifts-and-hospitality
Gifts and hospitality that have been accepted from London & Partners can be viewed via the following link to the relevant pages in the full list of entries on the register, pages 154 to 156: https://www.london.gov.uk/people/all-gifts-hospitality?order=field_gifts_gift_provider&sort=asc&page=153

City Airport (2)

Tony Devenish: Do you support London City Airport’s ambition to remove the current curfew on flights to allow flying on a Saturday afternoon and evening?

The Mayor: Please see response to Question 2022/2287

City Airport (1)

Tony Devenish: Do you support London City Airport’s ambition to increase their annual passenger limit from 6.5 million to 9 million?

The Mayor: Please see response to Question 2022/2287.

Registration and Regulatory Scheme for App-based Delivery Couriers

Caroline Pidgeon: Will you consider the potential benefits and practicalities of introducing a registration and regulatory scheme for app-based delivery riders and couriers in London?

The Mayor: My key focus for delivery couriers is safety. Proposal 11 in my Transport Strategy states that we will seek to improve motorcycle safety through improved street design, and improved training. Transport for London (TfL) is working closely with operators and riders to promote safer practices. This work is designed to build accountability and promote good practice in the industry.
Regulation related to cyclists is contained in the Road Traffic Act 1998 as amended which provides for cycling offences with a maximum (level 3) fine of £1,000 for careless or inconsiderate cycling and a maximum (level 4) fine of £2,500. Motorcycle couriers are subject to the Highway Code.
I have no powers to introduce a regulatory system for private delivery businesses. The food delivery industry has more than doubled since the beginning of 2020, which has led to a rise in new registrations of small engine scooters. TfL is in an ongoing dialogue with delivery companies about how they can work together to safeguard riders and everyone else who uses our roads.

London's Charities

Tony Devenish: Do you agree with Charlie Mayfield, of Be the Business, that charities need help just like SMEs to increase productivity ? How could you actively help charities in London and how have you done so over the last 6 years?

The Mayor: I recognise the essential role the charitable sector has in supporting and improving the lives of Londoners and their communities; this was made particularly clear during the pandemic. I was a founder funder in London Community Response, which saw 67 funders come together to distribute over £56m of funding to support the voluntary and community sector.
Many charitable organisations need support to further the work that they do through understanding and developing best practice. My officers help convene the London regional volunteering network to share best practice and worked with partners to offer free training and support on Trustee recruitment and development. My Community and Cultural Spaces at Risk office supports community venues throughout London to become more sustainable.
The Building Strong Communities mission supports equity-led grassroots, voluntary and community sector organisations so that Londoners can access support, volunteer, participate in community life and shape their pandemic recovery.

Land Banking

Sem Moema: What steps have you taken to stop developers land banking and reassuring them to build more homes for Londoners?

The Mayor: I am committed to increasing the pace of housing delivery in London to help tackle our housing crisis. New figures show that last year more council homes were started in London than any year since 1979.
Currently there are no planning powers to stop land banking. Their introduction would need a change in primary legislation which I would support, and I am disappointed Government did not take the opportunity with their current Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to introduce them.
My London Plan provides a clear framework, enabling landowners and developers to secure planning permission for sustainable development in accordance with the Plan. I have also adopted a threshold approach to viability which provides a Fast Track Route for developers who meet the affordable housing threshold, including an incentive to develop before the two-year review mechanism is triggered.

School absences

Shaun Bailey: How are you working with local authorities and the MPS to reduce school absences in London and keep pupils away from crime?

The Mayor: My VRU is a key member of the pan-London Inclusion Network working with local authority colleagues to address systems to ensure that children and young people attend school. These systems include attendance arrangements. Local authorities and schools understand their accountability role. The VRU has already begun discussions with leaders regarding September’s new DfE guidance ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ and focus will be on local area partnership arrangements. This will include engagement with police including Safer Schools Officers and Community Safety team as safeguarding is paramount.
The New Deal for Young People mission is aiming to reach 100,000 young people most in need of support to have access to a personal mentor and all young Londoners to have access to quality local youth activities by 2024. This builds on the community powered MyEnds programme which is working closely with young people.

Sarah Everard vigil prosecutions

Caroline Russell: The decision to prosecute individuals involved in the Sarah Everard vigil was made on the same day that the High Court ruled the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) acted illegally in its policing of this event. Considering this ruling, how did the MPS come to the conclusion that these prosecutions were in the public interest?

The Mayor: The decision to prosecute six people with breaching COVID rules came after the issuing of nine Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) relating to the vigil for Sarah Everard. The six people failed to pay their FPNs and the decision to prosecute was reached following a full evidential review.
As I have always maintained, I do not agree with the decision to bring these prosecutions forward, but ultimately this is an operational decision for the Met and the CPS. I made my views clear. However, I do not have the power to intervene.

State of London (2)

Tony Devenish: The percentage of London pensioners in material deprivation is 12% compared with the next highest region at just under 8%. Can you please explain the drastic difference between London and other regional authorities?

The Mayor: London’s higher levels of material deprivation amongst pensioners largely reflects London’s higher living costs and the demographic make-up of London’s population over the age of 65.
Research from the Department of Work and Pensions has identified several factors which increase the chances of older people being in material deprivation. Firstly, it found that 20% of pensioners who rent their home are in material deprivation compared to 5% who are owner occupiers. London has the highest proportion of people aged 65+ living in the private rented sector at 6% compared to between? 5 to 4% for the other regions.
Secondly, ethnic minority pensioners are three times more likely to be in material deprivation than White pensioners. London has by far the highest proportion of non-White people aged 65 and over at 21.9% compared to the second highest of 5.7%.
Finally, households with a disabled member are twice as likely to be in material deprivation compared to households with no disabled member. On this measure, London is broadly in line with the rest of the nation, with just over a quarter of people aged 65 and over having a severe long-term health problem or disability.

Fire Reform White Paper

Anne Clarke: What are your views on the Government’s Fire Reform White Paper and the impact of the proposals on London?

The Mayor: I support many of the objectives of the Government's white paper on reform of fire and rescue services, not least where they aim to professionalise fire and rescue services and improve leadership skills including better use of data. The London Fire Brigade has been implementing a wide-ranging transformation programme with a number of similar priorities, so the proposals represent a good opportunity to extend and embed this work. We have seen a number of major incidents related to climate change including flash flooding and grass fires and this will only increase. The reform agenda misses an opportunity to address these growing risks. It focuses unnecessarily on a new oath for firefighters which would add nothing to the safety of Londoners. It could have further clarified the duties of fire and rescue services, for instance in responding to flooding, and ensuring adequate resources are provided to carry out these and other duties. I am clear that, as in London, other areas should have the right to determine their own model of governance. Furthermore, there is a lack of clarity about how new governance proposals will be applied in London; this issue needs some further consideration and the GLA Fire Team has already spoken about this to the Home Office. My Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience will be writing to the Government shortly to respond to the consultation in more detail.

Acoustic Cameras

Joanne McCartney: The DfT are conducting trials for Acoustic Cameras. Are submissions for trial areas led by local authorities or TfL? If it is TfL, will they look into making a request to trial cameras at areas with serious noise pollution problems, such as along the A10 in Enfield at Bush Hill Park?

The Mayor: The DfT trial for acoustic cameras was announced in May 2022 and will focus on four locations across England and Wales. As mentioned in my answers to Mayor’s Questions 2020/3263 and 2021/3003, Transport for London (TfL) currently has no plans to implement acoustic cameras and has not submitted any location on its network to be included in the trial, though it will await any outputs from the trial.
While TfL continues to focus on road danger reduction and working with the Metropolitan Police Service to tackle the leading causes of this, its strategy to combat noise pollution is to focus on encouraging walking and cycling and reducing motor traffic volumes.

Vauxhall Cross Gyratory

Marina Ahmad: What steps will you take with (a) TfL and (b) Lambeth Council to accelerate work surrounding Vauxhall Cross gyratory? My constituents are eager to see works completed on this gyratory to ensure the area is improved for pedestrians and cyclists with more cycle and pedestrian crossings as well as segregated lanes and parking for cyclists.

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) meets regularly with Lambeth Council to progress design work and secure the future of this scheme.
Without a sufficient long term capital funding deal from the Government, TfL is currently unable to commit to delivery of schemes such as Vauxhall Cross gyratory.

384 bus

Anne Clarke: Given the developments that are being proposed around East Barnet, will TfL reconsider their decision to take the 384 bus away from the New Bevan Estate? Reinstating the service would improve connectivity for old and new residents of the area, especially with Cockfosters Station.

The Mayor: In August 2020, Transport for London (TfL) rerouted the 384 in New and East Barnet to provide better journey times and a more direct routeing due to falling demand and low passenger numbers for buses in this area generally. The new route links the main development sites in Barnet more directly, including the land at New Barnet gas works proposed for development, the new New Barnet Leisure Centre, the Jewish Community Secondary School, new housing on the west side of Mount Pleasant roundabout, and new homes being built near Cockfosters station.
At the moment, TfL does not have any plans to change the route. It will of course continue to monitor demand on the route considering proposed and recently built development.

75th Anniversary of Indian and Pakistani independence

Anne Clarke: Will you join me in celebrating the 75th anniversary of Independence for Pakistan and India, on the 14th and 15th August respectively? Do you agree that the links between those two countries and our city are historic, and that the large communities of Indian and Pakistani origin in London contribute a great deal to the vibrancy and economic success of the city?

The Mayor: I will of course join you in marking the 75th anniversary of Independence for Pakistan and India. London’s South Asian communities have helped us to become one of the most diverse and culturally vibrant cities in the world. It is vital we show our gratitude to these communities who have also played a huge part in the social and economic success of London.
Whilst the anniversary of independence should be recognised, it should also be a time for reflection on the impact and trauma of partition of the subcontinent. Moments of history like this, that are so tied to our city are vital to be remembered.

Bridges over Northern line

Anne Clarke: There are two pedestrian bridges over the Northern line in East Finchley, one at Prospect Ring/Prospect Place and one on Stanley Road. Both of these bridges are old and in a poor state. Local residents are interested in putting small planters and soil on these bridges. Will you ask TfL to liaise with me about assisting these local groups, and working with Network Rail to achieve this?

The Mayor: Following your question, Transport for London (TfL) will assess the condition of the bridges to understand what improvements might be required. I have asked it to consider the request for planters and soil as part of this work. TfL will contact you directly in due course to update you in full.

Trinity Road underpass

Anne Clarke: The underpass between Trinity Road and Manor Park Road in East Finchley has attracted a local campaign to improve the poor condition of the alleyway and underpass. Part of the campaign is to improve on the low-quality lighting, which discourages people from using the underpass, and makes those who do use it feel unsafe. Will you ask TfL and Network Rail to work with the local community to deliver their project?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) will assess the condition of the alleyway and underpass and share its findings with the local authority, so that appropriate next steps can be agreed. TfL will contact you directly in due course to update you in full.

East Finchley Station Bridge

Anne Clarke: The Bridge over the A1000 at East Finchley Station is badly in need of maintenance, specifically repainting. Can this request be added to the list of works for TfL to undertake, should they secure a long-term funding deal? In addition, will you ask them to look at painting the words “East Finchley” on the bridge?

The Mayor: Following your question, Transport for London will assess the condition of the bridge to ascertain what improvements might be required. It will contact you directly in due course to update you in full.

Promoting Ethnic Minority-led Businesses

Onkar Sahota: The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) reports problematic access to finance for ethnic minority-led businesses, an aversion to applying for funding and less likelihood of funding for those who apply. What can you do to support more robust data gathering and research on ethnic minority-led businesses as well as engagement between government, the business community and people from ethnic minority backgrounds?

The Mayor: The problems facing ethnic minority business regarding access to finance that you describe are well understood and have been highlighted in recent studies by the British Business Bank, Diversity UK and Extended Ventures, among others.
Last year, my Deputy Mayor, Local Economic Action Partnership colleagues and entrepreneurs participated in a roundtable discussion on ‘Disparities in Accessing Finance for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs’. One of the recommendations arising from that event was for the GLA to lobby more and lead by example.
To that end, my Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF) has committed to invest £20m of its capital in under-represented businesses and my London Business Hub is delivering programmes to help minority-led business get investment-ready.

Litter Free Zone

Caroline Pidgeon: Will you carry out an assessment into the cost of launching a Litter Free Zone Campaign for businesses and communities in London, similar to the one in Wales https://keepwalestidy.cymru/caru-cymru/litter-free-zones?

The Mayor: I am aware of Keep Wales Tidy’s Litter Free Zones campaign. Through my work with organisations such as the environmental charity Hubbub, I have supported the delivery of anti-littering campaigns including the Square Mile Challenge, For Fish’s Sake and the Coffee Cup Fund, which are engaging with businesses and Business Improvement Districts across the capital.
The London boroughs are responsible for managing litter, however, I have asked each borough to set out what they are doing to tackle the issue in their Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs). Many include actions on littering, including community litter picks, campaigns and on-the-go recycling on streets and in parks.
I regularly collaborate with organisations like Keep Britain Tidy and Parks for London, supporting their work tackling litter. I recently awarded Parks for London funding to facilitate their work to reduce litter within London’s green spaces and worked with them to support the launch of their spring anti-littering campaign – Clean Parks for London in April 2022.

Working with London media to communicate climate risks to Londoners

Zack Polanski: You have now issued a leaflet on flooding risks to Londoners, which is a useful step in communicating climate risks. What further steps are you taking to convene with media organisations in London, and encourage better communication of climate risks based on information and accessible data?

The Mayor: The recent heatwave and last year’s flash floods are stark examples of the risk climate change poses to London. My officers work closely with key London stakeholders to share alerts and guidance relating to extreme weather and high pollution episodes throughout the media. Protocols for communicating risks are based on forecasting.
Throughout the July heatwave, messaging sign-posted Londoners to using our Cool Spaces, water fountains and Refill sites, as well as health advice for Londoners. This was shared via social media channels, in media interviews and on digital displays across the TfL network.
Longer term, we are taking a targeted approach with activities like my recent flash flooding campaign which 45,000 basement properties with a leaflet and supporting media. Or Greener Together, which engages Londoners living in areas disproportionately affected by climate change, helping tackle some of the challenges head on. My officers have also been working with faith, age, disability organisations and other vulnerable groups to help communicate climate risks.

Supporting London’s Rivers (1)

Leonie Cooper: How important are London’s rivers and waterways in supporting the capital’s biodiversity?

The Mayor: Rivers and waterways are a vital component of London’s ecological network. This is not only for the biodiversity they support but also for the corridors they create for people and wildlife and the opportunities they provide for Londoners to access nature.
45km of rivers and waterways have been restored in London since 2000. I have set targets in my London Environment Strategy for this to continue with a further 10km to be restored by 2025 and 40km by 2050. Since becoming Mayor I have supported projects to improve rivers through my funding programmes. This includes habitat improvements on the Brent, the Silkstream and the naturalisation of 350m of the Turkey Brook at Albany Park in Enfield through my Green Capital Grants and works to enhance the Rom, the Lee Navigation, the Crane and the Hogsmill, including the reintroduction of water vole to the Hogsmill, through my Rewild London Fund.

Intensification of Industrial Land (4)

Sakina Sheikh: Will you encourage industrial land occupiers in London to look at case studies of best practice for how best to use industrial land more intensely?

The Mayor: My London Plan supports the intensification of industrial land and my London Plan team is preparing new London Plan Guidance (LPG) on industrial and logistics uses, which will provide further guidance for boroughs and developers, including case studies. As part of this there will be an extensive engagement period with the industrial sector.
In addition, my Regeneration and Housing & Land teams have supported a number of innovative schemes including Charlton Workstack, East Plus, Albert Island and Industria across Greenwich, Newham, Havering and Barking and Dagenham and will be sharing case studies and information via a new page on the GLA website here.

Parklets in London (1)

Leonie Cooper: How can you support London’s councils to repurpose and regreen road space through creating parklets?

The Mayor: Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding is available to boroughs for creating parklets, and since 2016 has been awarded for parklets in the City of London, Hackney, Lewisham and Southwark. More have been funded as part of larger schemes that deliver multiple benefits – for example, within the Mini Holland, Streetspace and LIP Major Scheme programmes.
I have also made available a Green New Deal Fund to boost green jobs, tackle the climate and ecologicalemergencies, improve air qualityand address inequalities. Part of this will be used to fund London boroughs in providing greening, planting and climate change mitigation measures on local and residential streets in the coming year. Some of these borough schemes may include repurposing road space to create parklets. Schemes are currently in their design phase and boroughs have autonomy over what specific measures they deliver to meet the agreed aims. Delivery of parklets typically requires public consultation.
To go further in repurposing and regreening local streets to effect lasting transformational change, we need a sufficient long-term funding arrangement with the Government to make the necessary funds and resources available.

Income distribution across London

Len Duvall: What analysis has been made of income distribution before and after housing costs down to a ward level? How has this been reported on?

The Mayor: Income levels and distribution are monitored at the London-level as part of our Economic Fairness measures. My officers are able to identify areas with higher need using a wide range of other datasets, such as children in low income families, which is available to ward level. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does produce estimates of average income at the Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA) level, which are similar in size to wards, but are a less used geography and are not as timely (the latest estimates date back to 2018). Other measures that can provide useful data on low incomes to small geographies include the Index of Multiple Deprivation and the DWP’s Universal Credit claimant rate but these do not tell us about the income distribution.

Borough-wide Characterisation Studies (4)

Sakina Sheikh: Do you know how much a Borough-wide Characterisation Study costs each borough?

The Mayor: The cost of a borough-wide characterisation study/assessment will vary depending on a multitude of factors. Among others, these include the size of the borough, whether the study will be commissioned in-house and whether it will be a new piece of work or an update to an existing character assessment.
Nevertheless, I am aware of the significant pressures on local authority planning services and for this reason have produced step by step guidance to support the preparation of these studies as well as setting out the publicly available datasets to support this work.

Colocation with Industrial Land

Sakina Sheikh: Will you look at creating a set of principles for how co-location with industrial land can work operationally?

The Mayor: My London Plan team is preparing new London Plan Guidance (LPG) on industrial and logistics uses, which will give further guidance for boroughs and developers on how to implement the industrial land policies in the London Plan.
To inform the new LPG, previous work on industrial intensification and co-location that informed the Industrial Intensification Primer is being reviewed and updated. This will provide a range of design standards to inform the development and design of industrial co-location schemes to ensure they can work operationally. Industrial providers and operators will inform this work alongside support from my Mayor's Design Advocates (a panel of independent built environment practitioners).
Industrial co-location is also one of the priorities of the Industrial and Logistics Sounding Board, which will also help shape our approach for the LPG.

Refugee Week

Marina Ahmad: How did the GLA commemorate Refugee Week this year?

The Mayor: I continue to do all I can to support refugees and people seeking asylum in London. During Refugee Week 2022, I was proud to launch the Migrant Londoners Hub - an online resource to welcome those newly arrived in the city and support Londoners with information about their rights, entitlements, and services available.
I also urged the Government to take urgent action to support refugees in the capital.
New figures from City Hall show that nearly a third of Ukrainians under the Ukraine Family Scheme are in unsuitable accommodation, and almost a quarter are at immediate risk of homelessness. Meanwhile, thousands of arrivals from Afghanistan are still in hotel accommodation in London nearly a year after the evacuation of Kabul. My team continue to play a key role in convening partners to address challenges faced by refugees and people seeking asylum through the London Strategic Migration Partnership.
During my mayoralty, I have also invested almost £3 million in funding to support migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum in London, which includes a significant investment in immigration advice.

Prosecution of Sarah Everard Vigil Attendees by Metropolitan Police

Caroline Pidgeon: Do you agree with the Met’s decision to pursue prosecutions against six attendees of the Sarah Everard Vigil on Clapham Common in March 2021, especially given the High Court ruling in March 2022 that the Met had acted unlawfully in blocking the planned vigil by Reclaim These Streets due to restricting rights of freedom of speech and assembly?

The Mayor: The decision to prosecute six people with breaching COVID rules came after the issuing of nine Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) relating to the vigil for Sarah Everard. The six people failed to pay their FPNs and the decision to prosecute was reached following a full evidential review.
As I have always maintained, I do not agree with the decision to bring these prosecutions forward, but ultimately this is an operational decision for the Met and the CPS. I made my views clear. However, I do not have the power to intervene.

Description of Disabled Londoners for Data Purposes

Hina Bokhari: Will you do a more detailed study on disabled Londoners being sensitively described for data purposes based not just on mobility issues but sensory needs, learning difficulties, and mental health issues?

The Mayor: The GLA follows harmonised guidance in order to make data on disability comparable. In the Survey of Londoners 2021/22, the response selection regarding disability was modified so that Londoners can indicate whether they have a ‘physical condition’ or a ‘mental health condition’, or both.
Data collected for administrative or survey purposes tend to include all types of disability defined under the Equality Act but may use other types of descriptors – such as the extent to which day-to-day activities are limited. Questions asked in the 2021 Census followed this approach.
I have drawn attention to the need to recognise hidden or invisible disabilities, for example in my response to the consultation on accessible homes and through my Workforce Data Equality Guide which provides practical, step-by-step guidance for organisations on how to collect, analyse and act on equalities data. The guide includes a comprehensive question on disability that recognises learning disability, mental health conditions and sight loss.

Disability employment

Marina Ahmad: In London, people with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as those without. What action are you taking to support Londoners with disabilities to gain employment with good pay and conditions?

The Mayor: Interventions to support disabled people who are newly unemployed or further away from the labour market is core to the delivery of the Helping Londoners into Good Work Mission. This includes the £32 million Good Work Fund; the Mayor’s Skills Academies Programme, which supports Londoners hardest hit by the pandemic into good work in sectors key to London’s recovery ; and the No Wrong Door programme, through which I am working with recovery partners to co-ordinate skills, careers and employment support so that, no matter their starting point or which service they access first, Londoners can be connected to the right type of support at the right time.
My Good Work Standard encourages employers to adopt best practice, including monitoring and minimising disability pay gaps. High standards must also be reflected in working conditions, including making the environment accessible, inclusive and flexible.
The ‘Building a Fairer City’ plan developed by the London Recovery Board provides actions that organisations across London can take to address labour market inequality - including promoting employment rights and equity and fairness at work.

Learning Disability Week

Marina Ahmad: How did the GLA support Learning Disability Week in June?

The Mayor: The GLA follows harmonised guidance in order to make data on disability comparable. In the Survey of Londoners 2021/22, the response selection regarding disability was modified so that Londoners can indicate whether they have a ‘physical condition’ or a ‘mental health condition’, or both.
Data collected for administrative or survey purposes tend to include all types of disability defined under the Equality Act but may use other types of descriptors – such as the extent to which day-to-day activities are limited. Questions asked in the 2021 Census followed this approach.
I have drawn attention to the need to recognise hidden or invisible disabilities, for example in my response to the consultation on accessible homes and through my Workforce Data Equality Guide which provides practical, step-by-step guidance for organisations on how to collect, analyse and act on equalities data. The guide includes a comprehensive question on disability that recognises learning disability, mental health conditions and sight loss.

Borough-wide Characterisation Studies (1)

Sakina Sheikh: Will you indicate whether a borough-wide design coding process in accordance with the National Model Design Code and London Plan guidance is being undertaken?

The Mayor: I have recently published for consultation a suite of London Plan Guidance (LPGs) documents on design and characterisation that outline the design coding process in London.
For small sites, the Small Site Design Codes LPG sets out how boroughs and neighbourhood planning groups should set area-wide design codes. For larger sites, the Optimising Site Capacity: A Design-led Approach LPG sets out how boroughs and neighbourhood planning groups should set site-specific design codes. These approaches are in accordance with the London Plan (2021) and broadly align with the process set out in the National Model Design Code document. This guidance provides a process for producing design codes, including any borough-wide design codes. It is for the boroughs and neighbourhood planning groups to undertake the design code preparation themselves. Those which form part of a Development Plan Document would need to be in general conformity with the London Plan.

Supporting London’s SMEs

Len Duvall: How is your budget addressing and resolving the disparity between business births and closures in late 2021 and in 2022 to date?

The Mayor: My budget includes millions of pounds of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Local Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) investment in support for small business which promote entrepreneurship and SME start-ups both through advice and loan and equity funds. That funding will, however, be ending in the next couple of years; and their replacement, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, falls well short of the resources previously promised.
National measures are required to address the current challenges faced by small businesses in light of Brexit, the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. The furlough scheme and VAT and business rate relief helped reduce business closures in 2020 and 2021.
As those measures have ended, it is unsurprising that business closures have increased. I regret that the Government did not follow the recommendations of my Covid business forum to take further actions to extend national schemes that would have promoted business survival.

London’s Registered Voters (1)

Len Duvall: What London specific barriers have been identified that discourage or stop people from registering to vote?

The Mayor: London has one of the lowest voter registration rates in the country. Barriers to registration include a lack of accessible information on rights and eligibility, including in community languages and lack of trust and representation in the democratic system. Individual electoral registration has sharply impacted 16- and 17-year-old Londoners and private renters, due to high population churn.
The GLA’s democratic participation programme works with Londoners to co-design resources that increase awareness of registering to vote. It is delivered alongside community-led organisations, wider civil society, all London borough electoral services, and the Electoral Commission, culminating in London Voter Registration Week (this year on 19 - 25 September).
The Elections Act will require photographic ID to prove right to vote and changes the voting rights of EU Londoners, disproportionately impacting Londoners. I will work with partners to minimise any negative consequences and am challenging the government to make voting accessible to all Londoners.

Children not in school

Shaun Bailey: How are you working with local authorities and the MPS to ensure that children who are not in school are receiving a proper education and are safe?

The Mayor: All 32 local authorities work with the VRU on their Violence & Vulnerability plans and a key component of this is to address concerns about children not engaging in education. These plans provide a multi-agency snapshot of the partnership arrangements for their most vulnerable children and young people.
Where there are fresh concerns, local authorities can access the newly launched pre-emptive critical fund to mitigate risks for these children and young people and provide much needed support.
The VRU is also part of a pan-London Inclusion Network and is investing £3m in schools across London on their Inclusive & Nurturing Practices. This will consolidate the work undertaken in the previous Supporting Inclusive Schools’ programme. The aim is to continue to develop resilience and provide strategies for schools who are supporting children with a myriad of complex needs i.e. exhibiting emotional based school avoidance. Schools understand their role in ensuring their pupils receive their statutory entitlement and this is reinforced in the new DfE guidance, ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ and updated ‘Keeping children safe in education’.

Borough-wide Characterisation Studies (5)

Sakina Sheikh: Do you have best practice examples of Borough-wide Characterisation Studies that have successfully been used to define suitable locations/sites for tall buildings for inclusion in a borough’s local plan?

The Mayor: Since the adoption of the London Plan in 2021, there are so far only a limited number of boroughs who have carried out a characterisation study and adopted a new local plan.
Nevertheless, several boroughs have recently adopted new local plans which have defined suitable locations/sites for tall buildings, include Brent, Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster. In all of these areas, robust evidence was gathered to inform a local strategy for tall buildings.
Since the adoption of the London Plan in 2021, there are so far only a limited number of boroughs who have carried out a characterisation study and adopted a new local plan.
Nevertheless, several boroughs have recently adopted new local plans which have defined suitable locations/sites for tall buildings, include Brent, Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster. In all of these areas, robust evidence was gathered to inform a local strategy for tall buildings.

Food bank donations

Marina Ahmad: I have heard from food banks in London that donations are decreasing as the cost of living, especially food, increases, meaning many are topping up donations. This is not a sustainable situation. Whilst there should be no need for food banks, they do vital work in ensuring Londoners do not go hungry. What support can you provide food banks that are receiving less donations?

The Mayor: I am deeply concerned by the level of food bank usage, and the impact the continuing cost of living crisis will have on Londoners.
My Food Roots programme provides grants to food partnerships across London, to help the food aid sector to support Londoners in sustainable and dignified ways. This includes encouraging and enabling organisations to take a cash-first approach to help resolve the reasons for food insecurity. My officers are currently developing options for the next iteration of the programme, with a goal of having an increased focus on supporting Londoners experiencing extreme financial hardship.
Food bank use is mainly caused by having an income that’s too low to afford enough food. That’s why I’m continuing to put pressure on the Government to act on the cost of living crisis. I’m also investing £5 million in helping Londoners to access all their benefits and entitlements, including £2.3 million to increase advice capacity across London so that 35,000 more Londoners can receive expert support to manage the worst of the crisis.

Gig economy charter

Keith Prince: Will your gig economy charter include training for powered two-wheeler users who work in this sector?

The Mayor: My Charter for Good Work in the Gig Economy will build on principles outlined in my Good Work Standard, applying these to on-demand and platform work. The full draft charter is still to be consulted on with relevant organisations, but is expected to include a section on rider safety and wellbeing. The charter will call on platforms to appropriately identify and manage safety risks, including engaging with Transport for London’s Vision Zero Action Plan requirements around training for professional drivers and riders.

City Airport (3)

Tony Devenish: Do you support London City Airport’s desire for ‘more flexibility’ for delayed departures and arrivals in the last half hour of operations each day beyond the current limit of 400 per year?

The Mayor: Please see response to Question 2022/2287

Intensification of Industrial Land (3)

Sakina Sheikh: Will you look to share case studies of best practice for how best to use industrial land more intensely?

The Mayor: The Industrial Intensification and Co-location Study: Design and Delivery Testing and the Industrial Intensification Primer provide typologies and case studies of best practice for how to best use industrial land more intensely.
In addition, my London Plan team is preparing new London Plan Guidance (LPG) on industrial and logistics uses, which will provide further guidance for boroughs and developers on how to implement the industrial land policies in the London Plan.
To inform the new LPG, this earlier work on industrial intensification and co-location that informed the Industrial Intensification Primer is being reviewed and updated and will provide more up to date case studies. This will include the Charlton Workstack, where my Regeneration team has funded an evaluation study to create a shareable case study. My Housing and Land team will also promote the schemes it is involved in such as East Plus, Albert Island and Industria across Greenwich, Newham, Havering and Barking and Dagenham via a new page on the GLA website here.

Let's Do London (3)

Neil Garratt: In your press release you rightly point out that London in 2022 was host to “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the 50th Anniversary of Pride in London, the Wimbledon Championships and the opening of the pioneering ABBA Voyage show at a custom-made theatre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park”. What proportion of the credit does Let’s Do London claim for the footfall generated by these events?

The Mayor: The Let’s Do London campaign measures additional consumer spend generated by the campaign, in line with the standard industry approach for marketing campaigns.
This is undertaken by surveying our target audience group to understand if they have visited or intend to visit London as a result of seeing the Let’s Do London campaign.
We do not measure in detail what events audiences attend.
Research shows that while major events are a great way to keep London in mind as a destination, they are not the primary ‘decision drivers’ for visitors, who are more likely to come to London for the variety of experiences available (shopping, nightlife, food and drink, history and culture). Those are the experiences showcased by my Let’s Do London campaign.

The State of London (1)

Tony Devenish: Latest data from the ONS shows that between January to March 2022 more business were closed in London than opened. What are you doing to attract more businesses to London?

The Mayor: London & Partners, London’s business growth and destination agency, are working hard to continue to attract businesses to London.
They attracted over 50 international companies to set up in London between April and June 2022; generating over £35.6 million in economic growth for the capital and new jobs and greater prosperity for Londoners.
In the previous financial year which covers the three months you highlight above, London & Partners attracted 93 international companies to London, generating £115 million in economic growth.

Let's Do London (1)

Neil Garratt: Why is the latest stage in the Let’s Do London campaign specifically targeting those in the East, West Midlands, Scotland, North West, East Midlands and South Yorkshire to visit London?

The Mayor: The domestic Let’s Do London campaign is targeted to reach those who are most likely to visit and spend in London, based on data such as:

London Recycling Rates

Hina Bokhari: Are you confident that all London boroughs are currently on target to meet 50% recycling rate by 2025?

The Mayor: My 50% recycling rate target by 2025 relates to Local Authority Collected Waste (LACW) i.e. all waste collected by local authorities from households and businesses. In 2020/21 London’s LACW recycling rate was 29.9%. Many boroughs are on track to achieve this target, however, a considerable improvement is still required by some to ensure they play their part in achieving the London-wide target.
Through my review of contracts, strategies and Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs), I work with local authorities to increase recycling rates. Boroughs are currently drafting new RRPs for 2023 to 2025 and I have set out my expectation for greater ambition and actions in them, for example encouraging the roll out of ReLondon’s Flats Recycling Package, which includes proven measures to increase recycling at purpose-built flats and estates.
A significant improvement to local authority commercial waste recycling is required to help achieve the LACW target. I have no powers to direct businesses to improve recycling and it can be challenging for local authorities to introduce commercial services in a competitive market. Nevertheless, 27 boroughs provide a commercial recycling service for at least one material stream. To support boroughs to introduce or expand commercial recycling services, I convene a commercial waste network through ReLondon and have provided a toolkit for establishing commercial food waste collections.

Tall Buildings: Renewal of Planning Consents

Emma Best: The London Development Database records planning consents for buildings 10 floors or over, whilst the New London Architecture undertakes an annual survey of tall buildings of 20 storeys or over in the “planning pipeline” – the 2022 survey estimates that there were 583 tall buildings in the planning pipeline.

Will you say:

. How many extant permissions for tall buildings there are in each borough in the London Development Database at 30 June 2022?
. How many by borough were originally granted consent before 2010, between 2010 and 2015 and between 2015 and 30 June 2022?
. How many of these consents have been renewed one or more times?
. How many of these schemes have claimed to have made a material start?
. How many of the permissions have lapsed?
. How many homes and particularly affordable homes are there in these unimplemented consents?

The Mayor: The following aggregate planning application data has been collected from the Planning London Datahub (PLD), which includes information on all planning applications across the capital since June 2020, as well as the approvals data from the London Development Database. The Datahub is still in development and new data is continuously being added. The following information was obtained on 12 July 2022.
The following data contains information on the number of planning applications that include one or more buildings of over 10 storeys, but does not include data on individual buildings. Therefore, these permissions may include more than one tall building as well as additional, lower buildings. Owing to nature of the dataset, along with complexities in planning application descriptions and types, these figures should therefore be regarded as estimates.
Q1) An estimated total of 465 applications containing one or more buildings of 10 storeys or more are recorded to have been granted planning permission and have either not yet started or are under construction (i.e., have ‘live permissions’). A further 19 schemes are currently awaiting a decision. The borough with the most live permissions at present is Tower Hamlets (79), followed by Lambeth (31), Westminster (30), Wandsworth (29) and Greenwich (28).
Q2) Of these 465 live permissions, 13 were granted before 1 January 2010, 80 were granted between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014 and 372 were granted on or after 1 January 2015. 22 of the applications granted prior to 1 January 2015 were in Tower Hamlets.
Q3) The PLD does not specifically track data on renewal applications, however a total of 320 applications which contain tall buildings have been superseded by a later permission. This includes outline consents superseded by subsequent reserved matters as well as schemes that were varied or renewed by fresh consents.
Q4) Of the 465 currently live permissions, 278 are recorded as having materially commenced onsite. Please note that this may comprise the commencement of one or more consented element and so may not necessarily involve the tall building aspect of the approved scheme.
Q5) Records show that a total of 129 applications containing tall buildings of 10 or more storeys have lapsed.
Q6) In total, the 129 applications containing at least one tall building of 10 or more storeys that have lapsed contained an indicative capacity of 18,521 units, including 4,183 affordable units. Please note that these figures are based on the total units in the scheme and so not all of this capacity would have been in tall buildings as many permissions include a range of building heights.

Diversity in the London Fire Brigade

Hina Bokhari: Do you share my concerns that over 40% of people in London are from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but only 13.5% of London firefighters are?

The Mayor: The current figure for London Fire Brigade (LFB) firefighters from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds is 14.92 per cent. LFB recognises that there is significant work to do to ensure that its workforce better reflects the communities it serves. The Brigade is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce and this is reflected in the targets contained in the consultation on ‘Your London Fire Brigade’ - the Brigade’s Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). The Brigade’s outreach work saw excellent results before the pandemic and will continue to prioritise the recruitment of diverse talent to its firefighter apprenticeship scheme in order to improve the representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, women and other underrepresented groups.

Heathrow's Flight Expansion Plans

Tony Devenish: Can you update us on any discussions you have had with Heathrow about their plans to expand flights, including the so-called double stacking?

The Mayor: My understanding is that Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) is not currently taking forward plans for expanding flights – and as such, it has not had any discussions recently with myself or my officers on this subject.
I remain greatly concerned by the environmental and public health impacts associated with any increase in flights at Heathrow and I will strongly defend the interests of Londoners if and when HAL brings forward plans for expansion again.

Augmented reality 2

Susan Hall: What potential uses have been identified for augmented reality for LFB and what progress has been made in utilising this technology?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) has engaged with a major technology provider to examine the potential for using augmented reality. A series of meetings was held to discuss augmented reality and its potential to be applied across the Brigade. The engagement to date has identified that the technology may be able to offer the Brigade opportunities, particularly relating to training and use within the Control room environment.
Further discussion was planned but interrupted by the pandemic when LFB’s priorities changed to support remote working. However, the intention is to continue this investigation with input from operational staff.

Maternal health (3)

Emma Best: The NHS has identified some risks attached to increasing the number of digitalised services such as scams and fake medical information which could cause harm. What more do you think could be done to combat fake medical information and how many instances of medical fraud have been investigated by the Metropolitan Police in the last year?

The Mayor: In relation to fake medical information, the National Health Service has an internal investigation capability which takes primacy for medical fraud. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency also have an investigation capability in this area.
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) who disseminate fraud reports to forces for investigations, do not provide a specific code to identify medical fraud, and due to this it is not possible to provide data on the number of medical fraud investigations that have been reported to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The NFIB also do not include medical fraud in their 2021-2022 Annual Threat Assessment.
I have urged the government to undertake a review of the Home Office Counting Rules as they do not reflect the manner in which many frauds are committed, particularly in respect of cyber crime.

New census data (1)

Marina Ahmad: Will your policies and programmes reflect the new census data released on 28 June 2022?

The Mayor: The Census data released on 28 June comprised counts of resident population by age and sex and total households for each local authority. The City Intelligence Unit have published the following documents to aid understanding of these initial results and their implications for the city, and officials are currently working on a more detailed assessment:
https://data.london.gov.uk/blog/what-to-expect-from-the-first-census-results-for-london-and-why-these-wont-reflect-the-current-population-of-the-city/
https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/2021-census-first-release
Census data on the characteristics of Londoners will be published from October this year. It is these more detailed data that will have more impact in shaping policies and programmes across London. The GLA run a Census Information Scheme in partnership with the wider GLA Group and London’s Boroughs, which will provide reporting and analysis of the data to support this process. These reports will be published on the London Datastore.

Borough-wide Characterisation Studies (3)

Sakina Sheikh: Does the GLA have best practice examples of boroughs undertaking Borough-wide Characterisation Studies through in house services?

The Mayor: The GLA does not currently have a list of best practice borough-wide characterisation studies/examples that have been developed in-house but this is something that my officers are looking to collate as more boroughs undertake such work. While I am aware that many boroughs have decided to commission external consultants to undertake their borough-wide characterisation studies, I encourage boroughs to explore the feasibility of undertaking these studies in-house, which will also allow for studies to be updated more easily in the future. I recognise the resourcing challenges that many boroughs face in relation to planning - and continue to call on Government to ensure that local authorities can properly fulfil this important role.